Maximum Security out of Pennsylvania Derby

Saturday's 40th running of the Grade I, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing was supposed to be a rematch between Maximum Security and War of Will, the two main players from the controversial Kentucky Derby.

That won't happen. Maximum Security, the 9-5 morning line favorite for the Pennsylvania Derby, won't run. His trainer, Jason Servis, said Tuesday that his star 3-year-old colt is out after developing a colon issue.

"He was doing great, I was really looking forward to running him," Servis said late Tuesday afternoon by cellphone from New Jersey.

Servis said Maximum Security was diagnosed with a large colon nephrosplenic entrapment following a workout at Parx on Monday. The horse was vanned back to Servis' base at Monmouth Park and the trainer was called back to the barn later in the afternoon because something was wrong with the horse.

The entrapment occurs when a portion of the horse's colon turns and becomes stuck over the ligament that connects the horse's left kidney and spleen along the left side of the body cavity. The condition is not expected to be career ending.

"He's wiped out," Servis said. "I feel bad. It's just unfortunate. The good thing is that he didn't need surgery."

Maximum Security was the first horse in the 145-year history of the Kentucky Derby to win and then be disqualified for an incident during the running of the race. War of Will was trying to come off the rail approaching the top of the stretch at Churchill Downs and was impeded by Maximum Security and jockey Luis Saez, who came out several paths.

Maximum Security had the win taken away and was placed 17th. War of Will was seventh after the disqualification.

In his seven race career, Maximum Security has five wins, including the Grade I Florida Derby and the Grade I Haskell Invitational.

With Maximum Security out, the new morning line favorite (8-5) for the Pennsylvania Derby is the Bob Baffert-trained Improbable, who has won four of eight career starts. War of Will, who was fifth in the Jim Dandy at Saratoga in his last start, is 4-1.

"That is horrible, you hate to see that," Baffert said by cellphone from California about Maximum Security. "As a trainer, you never wish anybody bad luck. I just hope he is all right and it's nothing serious. He was definitely the horse to beat."